Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 342

Chapter 342

Grayson’s POV

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My father had remarried when I was a young boy. Growing up, I had never loved my step-mother, but I hadn’t hated her either. I accepted her, attempted to treat her with kindness and respect. She seemed fine with that, never attempting to force me into a closer bond with her.

I had thought things were fine for years, right up until my father’s health started to turn. Then she showed her true colors. Her thirst of power became more obvious.

Now, she walked down the middle of the throne room, headed toward my father’s throne like she belonged there. Like she wasn’t stealing it.

Lillian placed her hand in mine and squeezed it. Having her support inade me a better man. I looked over at her once, asking only with my expression if she was ready. She nodded.

Then, together, hand in hand, we started to push through the crowd.

When we made it to the aisle, I pushed back my hood. Several onlookers gasped.

It was enough of a scene for my step-mother to turn around. Seeing me, her bright expression immediately dimmed.

“Grayson…” She raised her hand, and a few guards rushed forward.

I didn’t even have to move for my own guard to rush forward to block them. They each held their swords at the ready, as the normal guests backed away, frightened.

As suspected, only a few guards remained in the palace to defend the Queen. My own warriors were enough to hold them back. Holding Lillian’s hand, I stepped closer to the throne, with Lily at my side.

“You should not have come here,” my step-mother said.

“I will always do what is right for the kingdom,” I said. “I am the heir to the throne, the one my father wished would succeed him. You are an imposter, who manipulated my father in his ailing health. You do not deserve the crown.”

Said crown was being held by the head Elder standing near my step-mother by the throne. At my words, he backed up a step.

“I have been raised to be Alpha King, trained by my father and other great leaders,” I said, speaking loudly, confidently. I turned, addressing the people more than my step-mother herself. They were the ones I needed to convince. I knew she would never see things my way. 1

“The Queen has not, and that couldn’t be more obvious than by looking at the state of the nation since my father’s decline, where she has pushed her will and selfishness onto all of you. You thought you were suffering for the sake of the war effort, donating your funds to fight against the threat of the north. Instead, the Queen was wasting your funds on lavish parties and expensive gowns.

“She herself made no sacrifices for the war effort. Instead, she used my absence to undermine my claim to the throne, manipulating my father, even to his death, and calling me a traitor just to get me out of the way.

“I have seen you suffering. I have lived among you. I have watched my mother’s guards burn down your

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Chapter 215

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fields and silence your voices, and that ends now. The age of prosperity for this nation begins with unifying this nation, not dividing it. Not repressing it. Repressing you.”

“Someone silence this traitor,” my step-mother hissed, and her guards attempted to move forward.

“Stay back,” snapped one of my own warriors, holding back the guard.

“Do not listen to him!” my step-mother said. “He will say anything to have the throne!”

“No! That’s what you would do!” Josephine shouted.

Relief flooded through me. I was hoping to have her support here, but I wasn’t sure she would have been up for giving it. I wouldn’t have faulted her for staying silent. She had always loved her mother deeply. Even if Josie was on my side, to stand against someone she loved so much had to hurt her.

Still, Josephine came forward and stood by my side.

“Grayson’s telling the truth,” Josephine said. “Mother, I don’t know how you could have fallen so far.”

“Stay silent, Josephine,” the Queen said cruelly.

“I won’t,” Josephine replied. “I can’t. Everything Grayson is saying is right. You are only making things worse. Dad never wanted you to take the crown. You don’t have any of the training and –”

“What do you know, ungrateful brat?!”

The crowd gasped again, surprise zipping through the room.

How could the Queen talk to her own beloved daughter that way?

“Your own greed and selfishness will be your undoing,” I said. “There’s no need for this to continue. Step down, and I will be merciful.”

She looked around the room with wild-eyes, perhaps seeing for herself now how the public was shifting against her. If they had ever been on her side to begin with, which seemed doubtful now, with how quickly they were turning. More likely, they had supported her out of fear alone. Now that I was here, another better option, they weren’t as afraid anymore.

She looked around the room in desperation, but no fear rose in her eyes. Instead, darkness seemed to come over her. She reached to a chain that she had around her neck, and lifted a pendant that had been hidden

under her dress.

Lillian’s POV

I recognized the pendant at once. That was my mother’s necklace, the one I had swapped to take the prison that had imprisoned Teacher.

Teacher was free now, that pendant was destroyed.

My mother’s, now held by the Queen, was still intact but empty. Why would she be wielding it now? What could she hope to accomplish from such a thing?

“You recognize this, I trust,” the Queen said, her murderous glare settling on me.

“The prison is empty,” I said.

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“I know,” the Queen said. “I know you swapped it. You must have thought yourself so clever, stealing the champion away from me. But all you did was provide me with a fresh cage. One that I can now use again.”

I glanced at Grayson, who started to growl.

“You wouldn’t dare,” I said.

“The cage won’t hold a regular wolf,” the Queen said. “They were designed only to hold the first, and their direct lineage.”

Too slowly, I realized what she was saying. She meant me.

“You can’t “I started.

“Step-mother!” Grayson snapped.

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